Caracella faced the media before the Pies trained at the MCG on Wednesday morning and was asked about Malthouse’s now famous column in which the senior coach suggested Geelong would be under “enormous pressure” to win on Saturday night.
While Caracella also supported Mark Thompson’s view that both teams would be under the pump this week, he agreed with his boss’s sentiments.
“I think if you do read the article he said all the teams are under pressure, not just Geelong,” Caracella said.
“Good teams are probably favourites to win the flag, whether it’s them or St Kilda, they are probably under a fraction more pressure then what we are.
“I played in a team that finished on top of the ladder for three years straight and won one flag. I’m not sure if that makes you a bit prone to pressure or not.”
Caracella said the Pies also realised the opportunity on offer this Saturday.
“We stated at the start of the year it was our goal to win the flag and we’re down to the last four,” he said.
“So no doubt there’s a little pressure on us, too.”
One thing Collingwood seemingly won’t take in against the Cats is fear.
While Geelong won the teams’ only home and away clash in round three, Caracella said his men matched up well.
“We’ve managed to go okay against Geelong the last five times,” he said.
“We might be two and three, or three and two. We take a bit of confidence into the game, knowing that we’re a chance to win.”
Last week’s stirring, come-from-behind win over Adelaide has added further belief to a Collingwood outfit growing in confidence.
“It wasn’t looking great at quarter-time … there’s probably three or four games [this year] where at half time we’ve been struggling and managed to turn the game around and win,” Caracella said.
“So we always have that faith that we can do that.”
